Hartnell College Welcomes Eric Grabiel as Vice President of Instruction
SALINAS, CA — Hartnell Community College District is pleased to announce the appointment of Eric Grabiel as Vice President of Instruction, effective January 20, 2026.
Grabiel is an equity-minded higher education leader with 25 years of experience in public education, including 18 years of service to California's community colleges. A first-generation college graduate whose parents returned to the community college after having 8 children, he brings deep personal conviction to the belief that community colleges are among the most transformative engines for equity and social mobility.
"I am honored to join Hartnell College and to serve the students and communities of the Salinas Valley," said Grabiel. "My life's work has been centered on creating meaningful educational opportunities for every learner—particularly those who are the first in their families to attend college. I look forward to partnering with faculty, staff, and the community to advance student success."
Grabiel's career spans instruction and student services, with roles including EOP Counselor, tenured faculty member, First Year Experience Coordinator, Director of Learning Communities and Noncredit, and most recently Dean of the School of Professional Studies at West Valley College. He has led initiatives integrating Guided Pathways principles, strengthening student transitions, expanding dual enrollment, and building workforce pipelines aligned with regional economic priorities. Under his leadership, programs such as Cabrillo College's STARS initiative received national recognition from Excelencia in Education for measurable gains in retention and student achievement.
A longtime Central Coast resident, Grabiel earned his Master's in Public Policy from CSU Monterey Bay and has lived in Santa Cruz County for the past 25 years. He is the second-oldest of eight siblings, growing up in Southern California and later building meaningful professional and personal ties to the Central Coast. Outside of work, he enjoys the outdoors and nature, live music, playing guitar, and guides a week-long river rafting trip each year with family and friends.
